Every month women struggle with the same unavoidable problem of menstrual cramps. Though there are some women who have less painful experiences, most of us tend to hurt a lot. Besides googling “how to make your period come fast” and “why is my period late”, next in line is the search for finding menstrual cramp relief. Here are the top 5 ways that work for most women, some of which you probably haven’t tried yet.
Exercise
When you’re having severely painful cramps, you definitely don’t think about moving more than you already need to. But, some of the recommended activities for menstrual cramp relief are stretching and aerobic, and there are special kinds of yoga positions for menstrual cramp relief – you can easily find demonstration videos or instructions for them on the Internet. On the other hand, Knixteen shared on their blog that light exercise can make your period come faster. This is not a direct mechanism, as it relies on endorphin – the happy hormone. Endorphin is released when having an orgasm when feeling in love, but during exercise as well. It would be better to make your period come faster to make things more convenient and easier for you.
Magnesium
Many studies have linked magnesium to a healthy menstrual cycle. First of all, it reduces stress, which concurrently reduces menstrual pain. It helps women with polycystic ovarian syndrome overcome insulin resistance. It has a significant effect on reducing PMS symptoms such as headaches and mood swings. It acts as a normalizing factor in PMS hormonal activity, too. It positively affects levels of estrogen and helps relieve symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Finally, it can reduce menstrual pain by relaxing muscles of the uterus and lowering levels of prostaglandin. Magnesium deficiency cannot be overcome by magnesium-rich food alone but must include supplements as well. So, talk to your gynecologist about taking magnesium tablets on a monthly basis for a less unpleasant period.
Avoid caffeine
Caffeine is your period’s biggest enemy. By making your blood pressure higher and your muscles tighter, it not only causes heavier bleeding but more painful cramps, as well. If you are a coffee addict, it might not be bad for you to trick your brain with decaf just for a few days when your period is at its peak. Caffeine is not only found in coffee though but in tea, chocolate, soda, and energy drinks, so try avoiding those, too. Substances that can substitute caffeine are smoothies loaded with antioxidant-rich greens, berries, and protein powder. You can make your own energy drink substitute by combining bananas with ginger, apples, lemon, oranges or carrots.
Painkillers
Medication is the first solution that always comes to mind when in doubt how to reduce pain. There are several effective painkillers on the market which are safe to use during periods. The substance prostaglandin is being released during menstrual periods and it causes uterus inflammation and pain. A good way to avoid pain is to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication that causes a reduction in prostaglandin. Birth control pills also do the trick, as well as Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen). Be careful to watch out for side effects in any case. Medication can cause heavy bleeding which can shorten your period but gets you to lose a lot of blood in less time, so be sure to take iron supplements on the side.
Hot bath
Your uterus loves being warmed up when struggling with cramps. Instead of sitting in front of the TV eating chocolate covered in three blankets take an hour after a long work day to fill your bathtub with warm soapy water and lie in it for at least 15 minutes. Don’t take more than half an hour in the tub because your skin will get wrinkled. You can add aromatic oils and read a relaxing book for the best experience. If you don’t have a bathtub, a 15-minute long steam shower can do the trick as well.
Most of these tips and tricks reduce stress since stress is one of the most common health problems that lead to an unhealthy or painful menstrual cycle. Though it’s easier said than done, try avoiding getting yourself stressed at least over little things. Also, if you have really painful menstrual periods that prevent you from normal everyday activities you should consider visiting your doctor. Menstrual bleeding is normally painful to some extent, but severe pain can be an indicator of other help problems you shouldn’t ignore.
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